Pennsylvania Wine Bloggers: Who’s Got The Juice In 2014?

The public voting is complete for the 2014 Wine Blog Awards. The public has spoken and these lucky winners are the folks who’ve got the juice! A special shout out to Philly’s own Wine School of Pennsylvania. You do Pennsylvania proud.

Best Blog Post of the Year

Lauren Mowery’s Turkish Wines: Vinkara Winery Working to Preserve Indigenous Varieties with Delicious Results, from the blog, Chasing the Vine.

Best Original Photography or Video on a Wine Blog

Jordan Winery’s blog, The Journey of Jordan Winery, organized by Lisa Mattson.

Best Industry/Business Wine Blog:

Tom Wark’s Fermentation: The Daily Wine blog

Best Wine Reviews on a Wine Blog:

Wine School of Philadelphia

Best Single Subject Wine Blog:

Washington Wine Report

Best Winery Blog:

The Lynmar Life

Best Writing On a Wine Blog:

HoseMaster of Wine

Best New Wine Blog:

Girl and the Grape

Best Overall Wine Blog:

Jamie Goode’s Wine Blog

Are Pennsylvania Wine Buyers Discerning Worthless Wine?

U.S. wine drinkers are the biggest wine consumers in the world. Perhaps that’s good news for the American wine consumer. Because it didn’t take long for some very discerning wine drinkers to realize they were drinking counterfeit wine. In other words, fake wine bottles with fake wine labels were being shipped overseas for consumption, with the expectation it be sold at higher prices. Thanks to some discerning palettes, the worthless wine was readily identifiable. Are you drinking worthless wine? Watch below:

PLCB Regulatory Changes Comes To Pennsylvania Limited Wineries

Effective March 1, 2014, the Pennslyvania Liquor Control Board announced regulatory changes that affect Limited Winery Licensees around the state. The PLCB has eliminated the requirement that prohibited in state wineries from selling bottles for less than the same wine sells for at the state operated Wine and Spirit Stores. The recent change is designed to promote in-state wineries. For more read: PLCB Changes Allow Wineries To Sell Products Below The State Sell Price.

Pennsylvania Winery, Bar, and Restaurant Licensee’s Encouraged To Ring In The New Year Responsibly

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As New Year’s Eve 2014 approaches and partygoers abound, Pennsylvania Limited Winery, Bar, and Restaurant Licensee’s are reminded to protect their licenses by remembering not to serving visibly intoxicated or underage persons. Liquor Enforcement Officers from the Pennsylvania State Police will be out and about, enforcing the Pennsylvania Liquor Code.

Both uniformed and undercover liquor enforcement officers will be making visits throughout the evening to Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Licensees to enforce compliance with the Liquor Code. Your liquor license is an asset, an investment, by which your business profits are earned. Protect what’s yours. Ring in the New Year responsibly.
For more information see: Partygoers, servers urged to celebrate safely.

Government Shutdown Stands To Create Economic Losses for Pennsylvania Wineries

For those of us in the wine industry, the government shutdown has brought the wine approval business to a halt. Federal approval for new wineries and/or wine labels is handled by the Federal Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). For purposes of the government shutdown, the TTB has been deemed non-essential. The Federal Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is not processing COLAs, new wine application permits, label approvals, or importation of wine in bond. Approximately 800,000 of the two million U.S. federal employees have been furloughed.

The suspension of the TTB’s regulatory functions means all reviews of alcohol beverage label permits, formulas are suspended until such time funding is reinstated. This means that many Pennsylvania wineries will not be able to sell their wines until the shutdown ends and their applications can be processed. The legal documents required to bottle and sell the wine has come to a halt, hence having severe financial impact to many of the State’s wineries.

The TTB has posted an Appropriations Lapse Notice. Once government services resume, a horrendous backlog for application processing is anticipated as we are now approaching Day 14 of the shutdown.

A Best Business Practice For Your Pennsylvania Hospitality Business

One of the most difficult factors to comply with when forming a Limited Liability Corporations (LLC) is to remember that you and your business are not the same. This is especially significant for LLC’s that have a single member or handful of members.best_practice2.6022437_std

As the LLC owner, you are distinguishable now as the Agent of the LLC. Thus, when signing contracts and other business documents, you should do so on behalf of the LLC and not as an individual. This can sometimes be difficult to remember if you have grown out of your role as Sole Proprietor or Partnership, and have transitioned into a LLC.

In order to maintain the maximum protection of personal liability that your LLC provides, you will want to maintain this important legal distinction. Failure to do so may put you into a position where a judge may determine that you are personally liable for the debts of your restaurant, winery, or wine based based hospitality business. Adherence to this best practice will help to shield the members of the LLC.

Forming the habit of maintaining best business practices will ensure the success your hospitality business.

Protecting Your Pennsylvania Winery and Hospitality Business Summertime Event

Now that summertime is here, your Winery, Restaurant, Wine Business or Bed and Breakfast may permit wineeventusing your facility for events such as festivals, weddings, outdoor jazz concerts and other events that attract customers to your venue and promote goodwill in your community.

When working with event planners you’ll need to remember to have a carefully prepared Agreement that will protect your risks and liabilities for the event.

A brief look at things you’ll want to consider:

**Outline the premises and facilities that the other party participating with you will be authorize to use. You may desire to restrict certain areas of your property.

**Identify the purpose of your agreement, the parties involved, and the duration of the agreement. Allow yourself a provision that gives you the power to terminate the agreement if necessary.

**Detail the necessary payments, deposits and schedule for which they are to be paid.

**Be clear about which party is responsible for particular services and amenities (food, beverages, security, entertainment, lighting, janitorial clean-up.)

**State which party will be responsible for event permits and licensing.

**Identify who will be responsible for monitoring alchohol consumption of the guests. Make sure the alcohol servers are RAMP trained so they may prevent underage service, excessive consumption and intoxicated guests from driving.

**Allow yourself a provision to be compensated for premise damages that may be incurred during such events.

**Have your legal counsel prepare and/or review your written Agreement prior to the execution by each party.

And by all means enjoy your summertime events!

New Jersey Bars And Restaurants Under Investigation For Dishonest Alcohol Practices

New Jersey State Officials are now investigation complaints about mis-labeled drinks used to scam bar and restaurant liquor customers. Samples taken indicate that the liquor sold was not the brand ordered. Dishonest practices used to increase profits have certainly put the owner’s liquor licenses up for suspension and or revocation as per the state’s Alcohol Beverage Commission. For more on these despicable practices see:

A Comprehensive Look At American Wine In All Fifty States

Are you’re looking for a guide on American wines and those who make it? Is so you might wish to take a look at this new book by author and wine expert Janis Robinson. Janice takes a look at American winemakers in all fifty states. For more:

Pennsylvania Governor Unveils Plans To Privatize State Liquor Stores

Governor Tom Corbett (R) is expected to unveiled his plan to privatize Pennsylvania’s state liquor stores. The Governor proposes one stop shopping by allowing consumers to purchase wine and beer at grocery stores or big box store. The plan anticipates that prices would be driven down and calls for the auctioning off of some 1200 liquor licenses and the closure of some 600 stores. The Governor’s plan would have to be approved by the State’s Legislature. For more:

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